Motor-vehicle spring-mounting.



C. L. HElSLER.

lMOTOR VEHiCL'E SPRING MOUNTING. APPuc/xmn FILED 1AN.9,191'2.

@mama Patented Sept. 28, 1915'.

WITEQBESSES CHARLES L. asisten, or scHENEoTAnY, New YORK.

MOTOR-VEHICLE SPRING-MQUNTING.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

atented Septg, i915,

application sied January e, 1912t semi No. 670,172.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. HEISLER,

a citizen of the United States, and a residentrof Schenectady, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements on Motor- Vehicle Springountings, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates more particularly to large motor trucks 'or other heavy vehicles, or trucks, on which non-pneuniatic tires, and comparatively heavy springs are used for supporting heavy loads when hauled over rough roads and uneven surfaces.

The priniaryobject is to provide la truclrl spring suiiiciently strong tio safely carry heavy freight, .or lading, over rough roads,

tl'ielength and resilience of the springs, to compensate for any material reduction in load, or when the truck is run empty. Also to provide a means` whereby injurj to the springs is prevented from overloads. Furthermore to reduce the tendency to side swaying.

and means that will automatically increase In the drawings, F igurel, illustrates a semi-elliptic spring, mounted upon the devic'e and' attached to'. a. truck frame. Fig. 2,

\ illustratesa platform spring and the de- F ig.

vice attached to a motor driven truck.

' Fig. 4, is

3, is a section at A A'of' Fig. 2.

another application of the device on a motor v truck.

In the drawings, l, la and lb, represent a truck frame of' usual construction,2, 2a and 2b, the axle; 3, 3u. and 3'?, semi-elliptic main springs' which are of usualconstruction excepting, as shown, one end'is considerably longer than the other. Excessive or .destructive deflection of the longer end being prevented by' the leXu're limit member 4, 4a

and 4b, that is; when the spring is flexedto its extreme position indicated by the .dotted lines 3Q, Fig. l, then the safe spring loading cannot beexceeded and the spring material is not strained vbeyond lits safe Working'limit. Evidently the members 4 or 4a,`will 'transmit the load directv from the vframe by means of the stirrup 5, or 5a. VV-hen the main spring is deflected' to lthe line 3d, Fig. l, 'then its resistance is Inate rially increased, and with corresponding reduction in resilience, itwill carry a heavy load with safety..

The cross springs 6, 6a, Figs. Zand 4, are

of usual'construction, and are connected at 'their-opposite ends to Aportionately reduces a duplicate of the spring 3 or 3b, and which is mounted in precisely the same manner.

It vwill be noted that the distance from the axle, 2, 2 or 2b' to the point ci contact With the limit member, 4 or, 421oi -l'b be-l comes less'and less as the load and corresponding spring flexure increases: consequently as this leverage decreases it also prothe .stresses in the shorter endof the main spring, 8, 3, or 3b', (as Well as in the cross spring (3, or (la, in Figs. 2 and 4 althouglithe length of this cross-spring has not been changed) nor the shorter ends of the-semi-el-liptic springs 3, 3a, or 3b.

The spring guiding stirriip 5a is shown to vbe supported laterallvby suitable stays and 7, which'resist side movements of the inain spring when the vehicle is swaying' sidewise as on an incline, or when it comes against ,a curb.

In Fig. 2, tached to the bracket that forms the usual sprocket chain pinion bearing 8, and the 1 radius bar eye 9. In Fig. l, the bracket 10 pivotally secures the spring. end of the frame l. The other end is slightly fitted in the member l1 at the end of the iieXure limit member 4.

It will be seen that the lower closed end of the stirrups 5, or 5a, prevent excessive downward deflection of the springs.

The cushion bumpers y l2, and l2, `are placed at the end of the limit member 4, or

theniember 4a, is shown at- 4b, as shown, to avoid sudden bumps when the vehicle sways sidewise, or when passing over an obstruction, by .causing the spring delection wave to gradually approach the cushion as it followsfrom the end of theA :member to spring along the liexure limit the cushion. The .latter can be made, of rubber, or spring steel. Fromthe drawings it v will be noted 'that` even after' the main springs 3, or 31."rest againstthe end of the" limit member 4a: the cushion l2, or 12": the' short ends, (3,- 32*. and 3b) and lthe' cross springs 6, or 6a, still carry a portion ofthe load, and consequently give it resilience or cushioning. This is true because the cushlos ion l2 or 123. is at some horizontal distance from theaXleZ, or 2b, which forms the ful crum. -Heretofore the cushion 12, or 12a, was usually placed directly over' the axle and then practically'cut out the spring 6a I in Fig. l4, or the short end of 3, Fig. l.

Fig. 4, shows the spring 8b, with an extended end, that projects beyond and under Athe bearing Sa. The long ends of all the semi-elliptic main springs are shown to 'be slidingly fitted, as in Fig. 1, the ends'i'n lFigs. 2 and 3, are slidingly fittedl in the brackets S, or Sa. In Fig. et, the fiexure limitI member Ll", forms a socket for the cushion 12a, at one end, and a bearing cap and sliding spring bearing 13, at the other.

The flexure limit member does not reach the vertical plane of the axle, this is for the purpose of preventing cutting out all the spring action,

andto give the cross spring, and the short end' of the semi-elliptic main springs all'the necessary leverage to prevent excessive straining under a maximum load or deflection. Thereby the device avoids the non-resilient bumps Yor shocks s o common never'come together solid or flexure member for a maJor portion of its comprising a length, thereby preventing the bars or leaves from being flexed beyond their safe limits.

Claims: 4 A 1. The combination with an axle and a vehicle supported thereby, ofpa main spring long and short end section formed of a plurality of flat flexible spring the' spring to `said frame',

' spring and thereof. i160.

f vehicle supported thereby,

'spring attached near its middle to the axle, 'of a main-frame mounted upon the spring,

leaves, a vehicle frame, means for coupling the spring to said frame, and a safe flexure limit member attached to said vehicle and adapted to engage the long section of the spring and aid the spring in giving 'an in-p creasing resistance to support a corresponding increaseof load, to cause the spring' to bend 'gradually under'load and remain with-.l

in its safe flexure limits.

Q.. The combination with an axle and a vehicle supported thereby, of a main'spring comprising a long and short end section' formed of aplurality of flat flexible spring` means for coupling asafe .flexure leaves, aI vehicle frame,

limit member attached to said vehicle and adapted to engage the long section of the aid the spring in giving an increasing resistance to support a corresponding increase vof load, to cause the spring to bend gradually under load and remain with` 'in its safe flexure limits; and means adapted to attach the axle to said spring at a point between the long 'and short end sections 3. The combination with an axle anda of a flatA leaf and connected thereto; a safe flexure limit member attached to said vehicle, and armember,

the spring to the frame,

ranged to prevent unsafe and excessive liexure of the spring, and which will cause it to gradually bend to a form pre-determined by said limit member and with an increasing resistance which opposes increase of load, a cushionvbumper attached to said vehicle, and arranged at some dis-` tance horizontally from said axle in a manner to cause the remaining portion of the spring, that' is not in contact with the limit maximum load with safety, because of the advantageous leverage given to the spring by the location of said bumper.

4. The combination, Vwith an axle and a vehicle supported thereby, comprising a formed by a. plurality of, flat exible spring leaves, a vehicle frame attached to and supported by said spring, means for coupling member attached to said vehicle and adaptedl toy engage with the' long end section of the main spring and aid'it inA giving an increasing resistance to support/a corresponding increase .of load, and to cause the spring a corresponding to resiliently vcarry the "extreme,

of a main spring4 long and `short end sectiona 'safe flexure limit to bend gradually'v under load and remain within its safe I,flexure limits, the opposite short 'endsection of the main spring being .formed and adaptedto engage with saidmeans for coupling, and a plurality of flat flexible springA leaves forming'the longend 'section extending under the limit member for a major portion of'said long end sections length.

5. The combination, vehicle supported thereby, of a main spring, comprising a long andI hort end section formed of a plurality of flat flexible spring leaves, means for attaching the main Vspring to an -axle between'said sections, a vehicle frame mounted upon the spring and connected thereto; a safe flexure limit member attached vto said vehicle and engaging with the longend section of the spring, a crossspring coupled to the opposite, short end section, of the main springvwith the axle interposed between the cross spring and said with an axle and aflexure limit member, and meansfor attaching said cross 'spring to the vehicle frame.

6. The combination, with an axle and a 'vehicle supported thereby, of a main spring,

comprising a long and short end section formed of a plurality of flat flexible spring leaves, a vehicle frame attached to and supported by said spring, means for coupling a safe flexure limit" iiorxnl pre-determined by the contour of the spring Contact surface of said limit member, and a spring guiding stirrnp embracing said main spring and adapted to-eilgage with and support said lexure limit member. 1'/

The combination, with an axle and a vehicle supported thereby, of a main spring, comprising a long and short end section formed of a plurality of fiat flexible sprinor leaves, of a vehicle frame attached to an supported by said spring, a safe iexure limit member attached to saidrehicle and engaging with said main spring at the long end section thereof, means for coupling; the opposite ends of said spring to the vehicle, and

frame brackets engaging the limit meinber and main spring for the purpose of connecting said spring to the Vehicle frame. 4. The combination with an axle and a vehicle supported thereby, comprising a long and short end section, .means for attaching the vaxle thereto, a vehicle frame, means for coupling the frame to the spring, and means interposed between said long spring section and the frame and arranged to prevent excessive stress in the short end section.

CHARLES L. HEISLER. Witnesses L. MAE HEXSLER, CHARLES L. HEISLER, J r

ofA a main spring 2Q 

